Deep well submersible pumping unit



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A INVEN TOR. ZzZ//f/z @Zaj W. C. WOLF DEEP WELLSUBMERSIBLE PUMPING UNIT A Trae/Vey;

Aug. 21, 1962 Filed April 8, 1960 w. c. WOLF 3,050,006

DEEP WELL SUBMERSIBLE PUMPING UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 21, 1962 FiledApril 8, 1960 4.. M a, E@

Aug. 21, 1962 w. c. woLF DEEP WELL SUBMERSIBLE PUMPING UNIT 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 8, 1960 United States 3,050,006 DEEP WELLSUBIVERSIBLE PUMPDIG UNIT William C. Wolf, 1828 Churchill Way, OklahomaCity, Okla. Filed Apr. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 20,933 2 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 46)The present invention relates to deep well pumps generally and inparticular to a deep Well electrically driven hydraulically operatedpumping unit.

Previously proposed and presently in use are electrically `drivenhydraulically operated deep well pumps. Not all of the pumps proposed orin use are commercially successful for many reasons. A chief defect inthe pumps presently in use resides in the fact that the pumps operateentirely submerged in the oil to be pumped and the oil carries, in mostcases, abrasive particles which damage the sliding parts of a pump.Also, the oil being pumped may carry sulphur, acids, or thelike, whichdamage the electrical windings of the electric motor which drives thepump.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrically drivenhydraulically operated pumping unit which has a minimum number ofsliding parts operating in the oil to be pumped.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a deep well oilpumping unit which is provided with seals which separate the chambercontaining the electric motor and pump from the reservoir chamber andoil collection and return flow chamber.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a deep wellsubmersible oil pumping unit which has a minimum number of workingparts, one which lends itself to assembly and disassembly with ease andfacility, and one which is commercially practical.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunctionwith the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view partially in section of the pumping unit of thepresent invention installed in a well casing, with midportions of theunit being broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a View on an enlarged scale and partially in section of thelower end portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a view partially in section of the remainder portion of theapparatus shown in FIGURE l, and on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the .pump of the unit atthe end of the stroke opposite to that shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a view of a portion of the unit shown in FIGURE 3, showingthe lift pump at the opposite end f its stroke from that shown in FIGURE3;

FIGURE 6 is a View in section of the control valve of the unit, shown inone position;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6, showing the control valve in theopposite position;

FIGURE 8 is a View taken on the line 8--8 of FIG- URE FIGURE 9 is a viewtaken on the line 9-9 of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 10 is a view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG URE 2; and

FIGURE ll is a view taken on the line 1=111 of FIG- URE l0, and on anenlarged scale.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which like numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several views, in FIGURES l to 5, thereference numeral 12 designates generally a well casing in a deep oilwell al- 3,050,006 Patented Aug. 21, 1962 though the unit of the presentinvention is applicable as well to a water well.

The pumping unit of the present invention is designated generally by thereference numeral 14 and it comprises a hollow tubular member 16 closedat the bottom by a bottom plate 18 (FIGURE l) and closed at the top byan internally threaded plate and collar assembly 20, shown most clearlyin FIGURE 3.

An oil eduction tube 22 surmounts the upper end of the tubular member 16and is threadably engaged in the top plate and collar assembly 20. Theupper end portion of the tubular member 16 is provided with a pluralityof holes 24, shown most clearly in FIGURE 3, which constitute ingressopenings for oil from within the casing 12 into the lower end of thetube 22. The upper end of the tube 22 is connected to a pipe 26 leadingto the surface to a point of collection of the oil pumped therefrom. Thespace within the tubular member 16 adjacent the holes 24 constitutes adeep well oil receiving chamber.

Within the tube 22 is pumping means embodying a lift pump assembly 2Sincluding a valve seat 30' on which is normally seated a ball rvalve'32, the ball valve 3K2 and seat 30 constituting a check means withinthe assemby 28.

`In the upper end of the tube 22 is another valve seat 34 on which isnormally seated a ball valve 36, the ball valve 36 and valve seat 34constituting another check valve assembly.

The tubular member 16 is subdivided into a plurality of chamberssuperimposed one upon the other, the lowermost chamber, designated bythe numeral 38 in FIGURE l, constituting a support chamber. The chambernext to the support chamber 38 constitutes a hydraulic fluid reservoir,designated by the numeral 40. Next above the resenvoir 40 is a hydraulicpiston displacement chamber 42 and next to the chamber 42 is a hydraulicfluid collection and reverse ow chamber 44. |Ilhe deep well oilreceiving chamber, or part of the tubular member 16 adjacent the holes24, is designated by the numeral 46.

A pump 48, driven by an electric motor S01, is supported in the chamber33 and is provided with an input and an output.

A two-discharge passage outlet valve 52 is supported within thereservoir chamber 40. A conduit 54 connects the input side of the valve52 to the output of the pump `48, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 2.

The input side of the pump 48 is connected by a conduit 56, having astrainer 58 on the upper end thereof, to the inteor of the reservoirchamber 40.

A piston 60 is mounted in the displacement chamber 42 for reciprocatorymovement and it is secured to one end of a piston rod 62 extendingslidably through the displacent chamber 42, through the fluid collectionchamber 44, and the oil-receiving chamber 46 and into the eduction tube22. The other end of the piston rod 62 remote from the piston 60' isiixedly secured to the piston 64 of the pump assembly 28, the piston 64carrying the valve seat 30 and the ball valve 32.

Means is provided by the present invention xedly carried by the portionof the piston rod 62 within the collection chamber 44 and operable toengage openable and closable valves located in the collection chamber 44responsive to reciprocatory movement of the piston 60 to sequentiallyactuate the pumping means or pump assembly 28 to draw oil from theoil-receiving chamber 46 through the eduction tube 22 to a point ofcollection loacted on the earth surface adjacent the deep Well.

Specifically, this means includes a collar 66 carried on the piston rod62 intermediate the ends thereof and engageable, at each end of itsstroke, with either a plunger 68 or a plunger 70 of two valve assemblies72 and 74, respectively, identical in all respects but Ifacing eachother.

As the valve assemblies 72 and 74 are identical,l they will be describedwith reference to the assembly 74 in FIGURE 2.

The assembly 74 consists in a cylinder 76 having slidable therein acylindrical element V78 having Ka Vstraightthrough passage 80 andanother passage 82 connecting one side with the free end of the element78.V VThe cylinder 76 has one end open and the other end closed, Vas. atS4 and the plunger 70 extends through the closed end 84 and is biasedoutwardly of the cylinder 76 by means 'of a coil spring 86 circumposedabout the plunger 70.

With reference to FIGURE 2, a iirst conduit means, as at 88, connectsone of the discharge passages of the valve 52 to the chamber 42 on oneside of the piston 60. A Ibranch conduit 90 connects the conduit 88 withthe cylinder 76 on one side of the latter.

The other discharge passage of the valve 52 is connected by the conduit92 to the piston displacement chamber 42 on the other side of the piston60,V as in FIGURE 2. A branch conduit 94 connects the conduit 92 to thecylinder 76 of the valve assembly 72 on one side of the latter. Y

The side of the cylinder 76 opposite the conduit 90 is connected by aconduit 96 to a plunger chamber 106 adjacent to and spaced from therotary valve 52. Similarly, the -side of the cylinder of thevalve'assembly 72 is connected by a conduit 100 to the interior ofanother plunger chamber 102 mounted in lateral spaced relation withrespect to the plunger chamber V106. lTheV plunger chamber 102 is formedin `a block 104 which is supported on' the inner walls of the tubularmember .16 within the chamber 40. The block 104 has the other plungerchamber 106 arranged in opposed parallel spaced relation with respect tothe chamber 1102. Y Y

Pistons or plungers 108 and 110 are mounted in the chambers 102 and 106,respectively, for sliding movement therealong. They have their adjacentone ends exteriorly of the block 104 and pivotally connected to opposedends of a valve oper-ating lever 112.

The leverV 1'12 is mounted intermedi-ate itsends upon the projecting endportion of a stem y114 (FIGURE 1l) valve 52. In FIGURES 2 and 6, thevalve element 116 is shown in a position in which fluid flows underpressure to the underside of theV piston 60 and at the same time to thevalve assembly 74 which is normally closed. Fluid flowing into thecham-ber 42 on the lower side of the piston 60 eiects movement upwardlyon the piston 60 until the collar 66 engages the free end of the plunger70. This eltects, lagainst compression of the spring 86, the movement ofthe cylinder element 78 to the position in which the passage 80 connectsthe conduit 90 with the conduit 96. Hydraulic duid-under pressure nowows through the conduit 96 to the plunger chamber 106, effecting upwardmovement of the plunger 1110 to shift the valve lever 112 to theposition shown in FIGURE 4.

With the shifting of the valve lever 112 to the position shown in FGURE4, huid now flows from the conduit 54 to the conduit 92 :and thenceupwardly to the passage 138 I in the disc 136 and, simultaneously,through the conduit 94 lto the valve assembly 72. As shown in FIGURE 7,the discharge passage 122 is now connected to the valve outlet 126 andfluid tiowing into the upper half of the chamber 42 forces the piston 60downwardly, exhausts the fluid below the piston 60 through the passage134 and elements 73 in the valve assemblies 72 and 74 prevents pressurein the chamber 44 from effecting movement of the valves from theirnormally closed position. Also, any accumulation of hydraulic iluid inthe chamber 44 at the lower end thereof is automatically drained back tothe reservoir chamber when pressure in the chamber which carries a leafvalverelement Y116 mounted for limited rotation in a bore 118 providedin the valve 52.

As shown most clearly in FIGURES 6 and 7, in one position the valveelement V116 connects the `valve inlet 120 to one of the dischargepassages y122 (FIGURE 6) While connecting the other discharge passage124 to the valve outlet 126. Y

In the other position, as shown in FIGURE 7, the valve element 116connects the inlet 120 to the discharge passage 124, while connectingthe discharge-passage 122 to the outlet 126.

The chamber 38 is dened by the bottom plate 18 and a sealing ymember 128spaced above the pump 48 and provided with` gland assemblies 130surrounding the inlet or input Iand output side of the pump 4S. Thechamber 40 is defined by the sealing member 128 and a disc 132 havingapassage 134 connected vin communication with the conduit S8. Thechamber 42'is defined by the disc 132 and another disc 136 also having apassage 138 which is connected in communication with the conduit 92. Y sY f Y The chamber 44 is defined by the disc 136 and a sealing plug 137.The chamber 46 is deiined by the plug 137 and the top plate 20. Y

As shown most clearly in FIGURES 2 and 4, the conduit 96 is connected tothe bottom of the plunger chamber 106 and the conduit 100 is connectedto the bottom of the plunger chamber 102.

An oilproof and waterproof cable :142 extends from the motor to thesurface of the earth adjacent the well and serves to energize the motor50 forY operating the pump 48. Y Y

In use, the motor S0 drives the pump 48 to supply hydraulic tiuid underhigh pressure to the inlet side of the 44 and accumulation of oil issuthcient to reach bottom of the valve assembly 72.

What is claimed is:

1. In a deep well submersible pump unit, a closed `hollow member and anoil eduction tube surmounting said member and carried by the latter,said closed hollow member being subdivided into a plurality of chamberssuperimposed one upon the other, the lowermost chamber constituting asupport chamber, the chamber next to the support chamber constituting ahydraulic uid reservoir, the chamber next to the reservoir constitutinga hydraulic piston displacement chamber, the chamber next to thedisplacement chamber constituting a hydraulic the open tluid collectionland reverse ll-ow chamber, and the chamber next to the collectionchamber constituting the deep well oil-receiving chamber, a pumpprovided with an input and an 4output xedly positioned within saidsupport chamber, 1a two-discharge passage outlet valve in saidreservoir, the input of said pump being in communication with theinterior of said reservoir, 'a piston mounted in said displacementchamber for reciprocatory movement, a piston rod having one end securedto said p1ston and extending slidably through said displacement, fluidcollection, and oil-receiving chambers and into said eduction tube andhaving the other end adjacent to and spaced inwardly from the lower endof said eduction tube, pumping means disposed Within said eduction tubeand carried by the other end of said piston rod, a iirst conduit meansconnecting one of the discharge passages of said valve to said pistonchamber on one side of said piston, ta second conduit means connectingthe other of the discharge passages to said piston chamber on the otherside of said piston, the oil-receiving chamber being provided withingress means for admission of deep well oil therethrough, and meansixedly carried by the portion` of said piston rod Within said collectionchamber and operable responsive to reciprocatory movement of said pistonto sequentially actuate said pumping means to draw oil from theoil-receiving chamber through the eduction tube to a point of collectionlocated on the earth surface adjacent the deep Well.

2. In a deep well submersible pump unit, a closed hollow member and anoil eduction tube surmounting said member and carried by the latter,said closed hollow member being subdivided into a plurality of chamberssuperimposed one upon the other, the lowermost chamber constituting asupport chamber, the chamber next to the support chamber constituting ahydraulic iiuid reservoir, the chamber next to the reservoirconstituting a hydraulic piston displacement chamber, the chamber nextto the displacement chamber constituting a hydraulic uid collection andreverse ow chamber, and the chamber next to the collection chamberconstituting the deep Well oil-receiving chamber, a pump provided withan input and an output xedly positioned within said support chamber, atwo-discharge passage outlet valve in said reservoir, the input of saidpump being in communication with the interior of said reservoir, apiston mounted in said displacement chamber for reciprocatory movement,a piston rod having one end secured to said piston and extendingslidably through said displacement, uid collection, and oil-receivingchambers and into said eduction tube and having the other end adjacentto and spaced inwardly from the lower end of said eduction tube, pumpingmeans disposed Within said eduction tube Iand carried by the other endof said piston' rod, a 'lrst conduit means connecting one of thedischarge passages of said valve to said piston chamber on one side ofsaid piston, a second conduit means connecting the other of lthedischarge passages to said piston chamber on the other side of saidpiston, the oil-receiving chamber being provided with ingress means foradmission of deep Well oil therethrough, and means embodying a collarxedly carried by the portion of said piston rod Within said collectionchamber and operable to engage openable and closable valves located insaid collection chamber and connected to said first and second conduitmeans respectively responsive to reciprocatory movement of said pistonto sequentially actuate said pumping means to draw oil from theoil-receiving chamber through the eduction tube to a point of collectionlocated on the earth surface adjacent the deep well.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,220,334 Holmberg Nov. 5, 1940 2,245,501 Richardson June 10, 19412,622,535 Carpenter Dec. 23, 1952 2,697,985 Carlisle Dec. 28, 1954

